 of discord, a soothing address to the vanity of each party, and
the exertion of the authority which his services in that day's victory entitled
him to assume, at length succeeded in prevailing upon them to adjourn farther
discussion of the controversy. But although Kettledrummle and Poundtext were
thus for the time silenced, they continued to eye each other like two dogs, who,
having been separated by the authority of their masters while fighting, have
retreated, each beneath the chair of his owner, still watching each other's
motions, and indicating, by occasional growls, by the erected bristles of the
back and ears, and by the red glance of the eye, that their discord is
unappeased, and that they only wait the first opportunity afforded by any
general movement or commotion in the company, to fly once more at each other's
throats.
    Balfour took advantage of the momentary pause to present to the council Mr.
Henry Morton of Milnwood, as one touched with a sense of the evils of the times,
and willing to peril goods and life in the precious cause for which his father,
the renowned Silas Morton, had given in his time a soul-stirring testimony.
Morton was instantly received with the right hand of fellowship by his ancient
pastor, Poundtext, and by those among the insurgents who supported the more
moderate principles. The others muttered something about Erastianism, and
reminded each other in whispers, that Silas Morton, once a stout and worthy
servant of the Covenant, had been a backslider in the day when the resolutioners
had led the way in owning the authority of Charles Stuart, thereby making a gap
whereat the present tyrant was afterwards brought in, to the oppression both of
Kirk and country. They added, however, that, on this great day of calling, they
would not refuse society with any who should put hand to the plough; and so
Morton was installed in his office of leader and councillor, if not with the
full approbation of his colleagues, at least without any formal or avowed
dissent. They proceeded, on Burley's motion, to divide among themselves the
command of the men who had assembled, and whose numbers were daily increasing.
In this partition, the insurgents of Poundtext's parish and congregation were
naturally placed under the command of Morton; an arrangement mutually agreeable
to both parties, as he was recommended to their confidence, as well by his
personal qualities, as having been born among them.
    When this task was accomplished, it became necessary to determine what use
was to be made of their victory. Morton's heart throbbed high
